Gulfstream, Calder will go head to head on racing dates

February 28, 2013|By Tim Dwyer, Sun Sentinel Correspondent

Forty-one years of coexistence between Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course will come to an end on July 6 when, for the first time in history, both tracks will host a live thoroughbred racing card, and will continue to do so every weekend through June 2014.

Thursday was the final day for pari-mutuels to finalize their calendars for the upcoming fiscal year. The battle began when Gulfstream declared its intentions to host live racing year-round when initial filings were submitted to the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering in December.

In initial filings, Gulfstream submitted to host live racing five days a week during its traditional racing season from December through early April, and on weekends and holidays the remainder of the year. Calder submitted a filing consistent with its traditional Calder and Tropical meets, conducting live racing only from early April through November.

The filing from Gulfstream was expected, as the privately held track owned by The Stronach Group had announced one month prior its intentions to begin a multi-million dollar expansion of its facility this spring and stated that the additional dates were necessary to make the plan viable.

However, Calder was not expected to take the intrusion on its dates lightly. The track and its owners, Churchill Downs Inc., were still smarting from coming out on the short end of similar spat in 2011, when Gulfstream filed for and was ultimately successful in adding the month of December to its slate. After negotiations between the two entities, Calder was given additional dates in April and acquiesced.

This time, Calder stood its ground and countered with an amended filing last Friday, matching Gulfstream by also racing on the weekends of its meet. Attempts by the two entities to reach a settlement failed Thursday, with Calder submitting its final filing, cementing its intentions to conduct live racing Friday through Sunday throughout the year.

"It is with regret that Gulfstream Park was unable to agree on a racing calendar with Calder that we believe would have been in the best interests of the Florida Thoroughbred community. Gulfstream Park has already invested more than $750 million into its facilities in Florida and intends to expend significant additional amounts to ensure that it is one of the world's premier Thoroughbred racetracks and destination centers.

"Gulfstream Park's primary focus is Thoroughbred racing, and we believe by offering year-round racing that this will substantially build revenue for the Florida Thoroughbred industry. We look forward to working with all participants and continuing to make Florida one of the premier racing states in the world."

"Gulfstream's plan is about driving traffic to Mr. [Frank] Stronach's shopping mall. Gulfstream is clearly the aggressor and their dates filing is an assault on Calder's 41-year history in Florida racing. Mr. Stronach's reckless tactics will damage, if not destroy, an already fragile industry," said John Marshall, Calder vice president & general manager of racing.

"Florida's breeders, horsemen, and Calder all agree that Mr. Stronach should not have initiated a dates overlap. In 2011, Calder intended to end all race dates disputes in relinquishing its December dates. But clearly that wasn't enough. When does it end?"